在英语中某些词有两种或两种以上的形容词形式，它们词形相近，但词义不同，容易用错，下面就是一些这类形容词。

1)historic: famous in history, 历史上著名的 associated with past times 与过去时代有关的

a ~ event/speech/spot

historical: belong to history 历史上的

a ~ people/novel/play/film/painting

~ trend

2) electric: worked by, changed with， producing electricity 用电的，带电的, 有电的

~ current/cable

electrical: relating to electricity, an idea of a less close connection with

electricity

~ engineering/apparatus

3) economic: of economics

~ policy/geography/crisis/crops

economical: careful in the spending of money and time, not waste 经济的，节俭的

an ~ housewife/store

4) industrial: of industries 工业的

the ~ revolution/products/system

industrious: hard-working, diligent

~ people

5) considerable: great much 相当多（大）的

a ~ income/distance

considerate: thoughtful 体谅的， 体贴的 周到的

She is ~ to others.

6) sensible: reasonable, having good sense 实用的， 明知的

a ~ woman/idea/ 豁达的妇女/明知的观点

~ clothes 实用的衣服

sensitive: quick to receive impression 敏感的

a ~ skin

~ paper 感光纸

7) continual: going on all the time without stopping or with only short breaks,

stop and go repeatedly, 连续的，断断续续的

~ rain/noise

continuous: going on without a break, an uninterrupted flow 连续不断的

~ fight/work

8) intense: high in degree 强烈的， 剧烈的，高度的

~ heat炽热/pain

an ~ lady 热情的女子

intensive: deep and thorough 精深的， 集中的

~ reading/study彻底研究/agriculture密集农业

9） respectable: deserving respect, 值得尊敬的，有名望的

a ~ man/profession

respectful: showing respect 尊敬人的，有礼貌的，

He is always ~to the elders.

respective: belongs to each of these 分别的，各自的

They sat on their ~ chairs.

10) imaginable: that can be imagined 可象想的

~ difficulties

imaginary: existing only in the mind, unreal 想象中的， 不真实的

~ figure

imaginative: of, having, using imagination 有想象力的， 运用想象力的

a ~ writer

11) intelligent: having, showing intelligence, clever 有才智的, 聪明的

an ~ looking girl ~ answer

intelligible: clear to mind, that can be easily understood. 易了解的, 易领悟的

an ~ speech/explanation

intellectual: possessing a great deal of knowledge 知识的, 智力的

12) contemptible: deserving contempt 可卑的

a ~ lie

contemptuous: showing contempt 表示轻视的

a ~ look

13) credible: that can be believed 可信的， 可靠的

a ~ witness

credulous: too ready to believe things. 轻易相信的， 易上当的

He always cheats ~ people.

creditable: that brings credit. 可称赞的

a ~ record/deed/effort

14) alternate: changing by turns 轮流的， 交替的

alternative: giving a choice between two things 选择的， 两者选一的